Daniil Kvyat will drive for Toro Rosso in 2014

We reported on Monday that, although Antonio Felix da Costa has been the obvious favourite for the seat, fellow Red Bull junior Kvyat had jumped to the front of the queue thanks to 'a group of Russian sponsors'.

Italy's Italiaracing said one of them is SMP, a Russian group.

Earlier, Toro Rosso team boss Franz Tost had said Rome-based Kvyat, who is the first driver to leap straight to F1 from GP3, was too young for 2014.

"I think usually formula one drivers should be at least 20 or 21," he had said.

But now, Tost insists Kvyat is "very talented", having "impressed" the Faenza based team with his F1 test at Silverstone this year.